Welcome from the Director

The year 2020-2021 will be remembered as a time of challenge and turmoil brought on both by the pandemic and by an extremely divisive social and political climate. Racially motivated rhetoric and violence heightened our awareness of the need for fundamental change if we are to overcome systemic forms of injustice. As an educational and cultural institution, we recognized that we must respond to this moment of reckoning and work to foster a truly anti-racist and inclusive environment, both at The Institute of Fine Arts and in the world. That has been our goal for this past year, even as we know that much fresh thinking and work remains to be done. An overall sense of anxiety, precariousness, and isolation provided the framework for the year, although we also witnessed great resilience, creativity, experimentation, and community spirit.

NYU faculty and administrators spent much of the summer of 2020 working intensively to prepare for a safe return to our classrooms, laboratories, and libraries for hybrid (in-person and virtual) teaching and research in the fall. It was impressive to see the ten workstreams—handling everything from Covid testing, to classroom reconfigurations, to ordering and distributing PPE, to the installation of new and upgraded technology, to contactless library services—come together just in time for our fall opening. Many students reported that they appreciated the opportunity to take classes in person or online, even though there were some problems with the virtual technology. We are all extremely grateful to our superb building staff, led by Wilfred Manzo, and to Brenda Phifer Shrobe, our Head of Human Resources, for all they did to enable our return. We are also indebted to our problem-solving digital technology team, supervised by Jenni Rodda, who helped us make the most of the new virtual environment for teaching and research while also assisting us with classroom technology, and to our wonderful librarians, led by Lori Salmon, who provided research guidance and support while also mailing books to students and faculty anywhere in the US. It was a remarkable, all-hands-on-deck effort, and it meant that there was no classroom spread of Covid at The Institute or at NYU. The faculty responded to the situation by rethinking the topics and organization of their courses. Many offered classes that addressed the social and racial concerns of this historical moment. Our public programming, which had pivoted to virtual formats in the spring of 2020, continued to offer a rich and varied set of talks, conversations, book launches, and exhibition presentations. These events, many of which were recorded, reached audiences in the hundreds with attendees hailing from many continents and time zones. On average over 1200 individuals rsvp’d for each of our four Frick Talks with more than 350 guests in attendance at each event, far more than could sit in our Lecture Hall.

During the summer, faculty members Thomas E. Crow, F. Barry Flood, and Edward J. Sullivan presented their research to NYU Alumni in wellattended and highly praised webinars. Among the highlights of the academic year’s public programming were a presentation by Lonnie G. Bunch III, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution; a conversation between artist Xaviera Simmons (whose installation Posture was featured in the fall Great Hall exhibition), William A. Darity Jr. and A. Kirsten Mullen; the Judith Praska Lecture with Lynda Zycherman, Conservator of Sculpture at the Museum of Modern Art; a new series of Ancient Art & Architecture Seminars; an exchange between artists Hank Willis Thomas and Chris Bernsten in the newly inaugurated Sam Wagstaff Photography lecture series; a conversation between artist Cauleen Smith (whose film H-E-L-L-O: To Do All at Once was the Great Hall exhibition this spring) and Professor Mabel O. Wilson of Columbia University; and a lecture by Max Hollein, Marina Kellen French Director of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Other fascinating events included talks by renowned conservators, and book launches by several faculty members, including Jonathan Brown, Michele Marincola, Jean-Louis Cohen, John Hopkins, Dipti Khera, and Pepe Karmel. These programs would not have been possible without the dedicated supervision of Sarah Higby, Director of Development and Public Affairs, Sofia Palumbo-Dawson, our new Manager of Public Programming, and our excellent digital media staff including Joe Rosario, George Cintron, and Fatima Tanglao.

Most of all, we want to thank our students for their contributions to our in-house exhibitions, to our public programming, and to the publication of Lapis: Journal of the Institute of Fine Arts overseen by managing editor Conley Lowrance. Institute students initiated important conversations on racial justice, diversity and equity with reference both to the IFA and to arts and cultural organizations more broadly. They have asked for a more global and inclusive curriculum, a goal we are working toward. We are proud of their achievements, hard work, and commitment to positive social change.

Although virtual, our 2021 graduation was an inspiring event. Honored guest Thom Collins, Executive Director and President of the Barnes Foundation, offered his reflections on the work of Félix Gonzalez-Torres as a model for creating a more communitarian and inclusive world. Distinguished alumna Rosa Lowinger, writer, curator, and conservator, gave a wonderful talk on her return to her home in Cuba, and her efforts to preserve the memory and cultural artifacts of marginalized people there. It was an amazing, unforgettable year that brought out the best in our community in the face of a great deal of adversity and turbulence. As we send our MA students off on their travels supported by the Shelby White and Leon Levy grants, we begin to sense that a more normal life is beginning to return. We all look forward to an in-person fall 2021, and to welcoming the members of our broader community back to the Duke House for events, lectures and exhibition openings when that is safe.

Christine Poggi Judy and Michael Steinhardt Director The Institute of Fine Arts